Annual Theme, Attendance, History, and more!
Upcoming METROCON Dates!
July 31 – August 2, 2026
July 23 – 25, 2027
METROCON is a for fans, by fans anime convention featuring celebrity guests, exhibitors, and the most unique and exciting convention entertainment in the multiverse!
At METROCON, we strive to bring you the best convention experience possible. We pack three days full of anime, video games, cosplay, comic books, sci-fi, fantasy, film, and more at the Tampa Convention Center every summer, with a focus on our roots – anime and video games.
We work hard every day, all year round, to create unique and exciting experiences for fans in an inclusive and immersive environment. We are always aiming to take METROCON to new and exciting places while ensuring that the sense of family and community never diminishes.
METROCON exists and thrives because of the amazing anime fans from around the world that have made this convention home – we’re grateful every day for the opportunity to put this event on, and we look forward to many more years of METROCON with you!
Every year at METROCON, we choose a “theme” that we use to inspire our events, guests, and the overall vibe of the convention.
YEAR 23 – STAY FERAL
The theme for METROCON 2026 is “Stay Feral” – come, fellow possums and rejoice in the trash bin with us! No, it won’t just be about hissing and biting people – there’s a connection with our humanity we’re looking to find this year by removing the glossy tech, the algorithms, and the maddening AI infusion of our everyday lives. Just three days – with human connection and a mind towards play – to remind us of the gremlins we were all destined to be.
“Wait – what happened to the “Versus” theme? Why change the way the theme works? I thought it was cool!”
Read our blog post here about our new theme format, and why we changed it!
2003 – The very first METROCON is held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel as Tampa’s first anime-focused fan convention, and a meet-up for members of the early-2000’s forum community, AnimeMetro.com
2004 – The first Anime Human Chess Match is held, signaling METROCON’s move towards entertainment-focused fan events!
2005 – METROCON moves to the Tampa Convention Center, and claims the title of “Florida’s Largest Anime Convention”
2010 – METROCON is acquired by Team Dynamite Productions, the production company founded by long-term core staff members, and ownership changes hands.
2014 – METROCON attendance breaks 10,000 for the first time!
2015 – The first 4-day METROCON is held, as expansion continues to cover over 600,000 square feet of convention space, and 200+ hours of content
2018 – Alex Craddock, long time Director of Operations, assumes the role of CEO and becomes the sole owner of Team Dynamite Productions
2021 – Based on input from fans all over the world, METROCON returns to a three-day event to focus on quality over quantity
2023 – METROCON celebrates their 20th Anniversary, including a record-breaking convention year, and a dedication from the City of Tampa